I said, Don, it’s time for you to reveal’: 50 years later, the truth behind American Pie

The Guardian ^ | Jim Farber

[Andyman]

It’s a great song, but probably #10 or so on my list of favorite Don McLean songs. #1: Empty Chairs

[Boogieman]

I’ve been had? Why, because I once bought a used Don McLean cd in the bargain rack?

[FLNittany]

Love the song. Love all the references. Love Mclean (Vincent is a better song imo). A new one for me here is the Lovin’ Spoonful part.

[Born to Conserve]

I so hated that song. I saw more than one radio smashed when it played.

[Palio di Siena]

Agree - between American Pie and MacArthur Park - yuck.

[Dr.Deth]

Maybe, but he sure loves himself some capitalism.

[OneVike]

I always liked the song... except, at karaoke. It's WAYY too long. I only paid attention to the music, and the lyrics that I liked.

Too funny, I remember back in 1990's me and. y wife were at a bar and it was Karaoke night. A few friends talked me into trying it, since I used to have good voice. Allergies have since ruined me. Anyway, I chose this song, and I remember thinking can I just stop singing now. I forgot how loooong the song really is..

Thanks for jarring my memory.

[Red Badger]

The album version was longer than the 45 version..................

[Rebelbase]

Sorry for your loss at such a young age.

I was around 9 or 10 when the song came out. We lived in New Orleans and a favorite thing to do was go down to the river and ride mini bikes on top of the levee.

“Drove my Chevy to the levee” Something instantly meaningful to us young kids at the time.

[Laslo Fripp]

BTTT

[ArtDodger]

I have won many a free drink over the years in bar bets with trivia experts on the song and the event (plane crash) by simply asking them to name the pilot who also died that day.

[CatOwner]

Agreed. Very little to like about the song, especially when the FM stations started playing the nearly 9 minute album version. Overplayed on FM and AM (and now on various Sirius XM channels). I tend not to channel surf while driving, but that’s one of a handful of songs I immediately dial away from.

[circlecity]

I loved the song. In addition to Buddy, Richie and the Bopper it incorporates references to Elvis, the Beatles, Dylan, the Byrd’s and the Stones. It was great interpreting all the riddles.

[enumerated]

Yeah I never liked the meatloaf stuff either. There’s something pretentious about songs that have too many verses or go on too long - they overstay their welcome.

[PGR88]

Thanks for that. I was born after the events of this song, but heard the song often, of course.

Just this past weekend, I was hanging out with a friend and his family, and he played this song - twice. We started to discuss the song, because its not a typical pop-song, rather its a longer and more dense lyric poem, written in the form a an ode. He is telling a story. But what are the details of that story? You explanation helps.

[Allegra]

What a fascinating and heartbreaking story. You described it so well, I felt like I was there with you. I’m sorry you experienced such a loss, especially at that young age.

Everybody has their reasons for liking or disliking a song. You certainly articulated your well.

[Allegra]

*yours

[FreeReign]

Most of the kids I hung out with in '71 had no real connection to Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper. So the lyrics sounded silly. And myself, I couldn't stand Dylan.

Catchy tune never the less for people who like tunes.

[mmichaels1970]

And while Lennon read a book of Marx

I always envision "Lenin" when I hear it, even though I've seen countless times that it's "Lennon". Kind of makes it a pretty cool lyric that it can do that you know?

[aspasia]

I’ve been had, too. Recognition and admission is one of those first steps to recovery.

The world is likely more complex than Maclean could divine,

Please take care.